Apparatus, system and method of wireless backhaul and access communication via a common antenna array

ABSTRACT

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of wireless backhaul and access communication via a common antenna array. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication unit to control an antenna array to form one or more first beams for communicating over one or more access links and to form one or more second beams for communicating over one or more backhaul links, the access links including wireless communication links between a wireless communication node and one or more mobile devices, and the backhaul links including wireless communication links between the wireless node and one or more other wireless communication nodes.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/754,708 entitled “Apparatus,System and Method of Wireless Backhaul and Access Communication via aCommon Antenna Array”, filed Jan. 21, 2013, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to wireless communicationvia an antenna array.

BACKGROUND

Some wireless communication systems may communicate over the Millimeterwave (mmWave) frequency band, e.g., the 60 GHz Frequency band. A mmWavepropagation has a few major distinctive features in comparison withlower frequency bands, e.g., the frequency bands of 2.4-5 GHz. Forexample, the mmWave propagation may have a propagation loss greater thanthe propagation loss in the lower frequency bands, and may haveQuasi-optical propagation properties.

A mmWave communication system may use high-gain directional antennas tocompensate for large path loss and/or employ beam-steering techniques.Design of appropriate antenna system and/or further signal processingmay be an important aspect of mmWave communication system development.

Multi-element phased antenna arrays may be used, for example, forcreation of a directional antenna pattern. A phased antenna array mayform a directive antenna pattern or a beam, which may be steered bysetting appropriate signal phases at the antenna elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a multi-cell wirelesscommunication system, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an ordered communication schemefor communication of a plurality of wireless communication nodes, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a wireless communication node, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a modular antenna array, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a planar modular antenna array, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of wirelessbackhaul and access communication, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a product of manufacture, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “demonstrativeembodiment”, “various embodiments” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s)so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object,merely indicate that different instances of like objects are beingreferred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so describedmust be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking,or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, an Ultrabook™ computer, a server computer, a handheldcomputer, a handheld device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device,a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybriddevice, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portabledevice, a consumer device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, awireless communication station, a wireless communication device, awireless Access Point (AP), a wired or wireless router, a wired orwireless modem, a video device, an audio device, an audio-video (AN)device, a wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a WirelessVideo Area Network (WVAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN(WLAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), and thelike.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA)specifications (Wireless Gigabit Alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHYSpecification Version 1.1, April 2011, Final specification) and/orfuture versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 standards (IEEE802.11-2012, IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunicationsand information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications, Mar. 29, 2012;IEEE802.11 task group ac (TGac) (“IEEE802.11-09/0308r12—TGac ChannelModel Addendum Document”); IEEE 802.11 task group ad (TGad) (IEEEP802.11ad Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications andInformation Exchange Between Systems—Local and Metropolitan AreaNetworks—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 3:Enhancements for Very High Throughput in the 60 GHz Band)) and/or futureversions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operatingin accordance with existing WirelessHD™ specifications and/or futureversions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are partof the above networks, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-wayradio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communicationsystems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, aPersonal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a Smartphone, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrierCDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT),Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™,Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), 2G,2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks, 3GPP, LongTerm Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used in variousother devices, systems and/or networks.

The term “wireless device”, as used herein, includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

The term “communicating” as used herein with respect to a wirelesscommunication signal includes transmitting the wireless communicationsignal and/or receiving the wireless communication signal. For example,a wireless communication unit, which is capable of communicating awireless communication signal, may include a wireless transmitter totransmit the wireless communication signal to at least one otherwireless communication unit, and/or a wireless communication receiver toreceive the wireless communication signal from at least one otherwireless communication unit.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN.Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any other suitablewireless communication network, for example, a wireless area network, a“piconet”, a WPAN, a WVAN and the like.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with awireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of 60GHz. However, other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any othersuitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, anExtremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmwave)frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequency band ofbetween 20 Ghz and 300 GHZ, a WLAN frequency band, a WPAN frequencyband, a frequency band according to the WGA specification, and the like.

The phrase “peer to peer (PTP or P2P) communication”, as used herein,may relate to device-to-device communication over a wireless link(“peer-to-peer link”) between a pair of devices. The P2P communicationmay include, for example, wireless communication over a direct linkwithin a QoS basic service set (BSS), a tunneled direct-link setup(TDLS) link, a station-to-station (STA-to-STA) communication in anindependent basic service set (IBSS), or the like.

The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In someembodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. Insome embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna,a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or thelike.

The phrase “mmWave frequency band” as used herein may relate to afrequency band above 20 GHz, e.g., a frequency band between 20 GHz and300 GHz.

The phrases “directional multi-gigabit (DMG)” and “directional band”(DBand), as used herein, may relate to a frequency band wherein theChannel starting frequency is above 40 GHz.

The phrases “DMG STA” and “mmWave STA (mSTA)” may relate to a STA havinga radio transmitter, which is operating on a channel that is within themmWave or DMG band.

The term “beamforming”, as used herein, may relate to a spatialfiltering mechanism, which may be used at a transmitter and/or areceiver to improve one or more attributes, e.g., the received signalpower or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at an intended receiver.

The term “cell”, as used herein, may include a combination of networkresources, for example, downlink and optionally uplink resources. Theresources may be controlled and/or allocated, for example, by a wirelesscommunication node (also referred to as a “node” or a “base station”),or the like. The linking between a carrier frequency of the downlinkresources and a carrier frequency of the uplink resources may beindicated in system information transmitted on the downlink resources.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 mayinclude one or more wireless communication devices capable ofcommunicating content, data, information and/or signals via a wirelessmedium (WM). For example, system 100 may include one or more wirelesscommunication nodes, e.g., including nodes 101 and 150, and one or moremobile devices, e.g., including mobile device 140. The wireless mediummay include, for example, a radio channel, a cellular channel, an RFchannel, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channel, an IR channel, and thelike. One or more elements of system 100 may optionally be capable ofcommunicating over any suitable wired communication links.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 101, node 150 and mobile device140 may form and/or communicate as part of one or more wirelesscommunication networks. For example, node 101 and mobile device 140 mayform and/or may communicate as part of a wireless communication cell,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 101 and/or 150 may include ormay perform the functionality of a Base Station (BS), a macro BS, amicro BS, an Access Point (AP), a WiFi node, a Wimax node, a cellularnode, e.g., an Evolved Node B (eNB), an LTE node, a station, a hot spot,a network controller, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 140 may include, forexample, a User Equipment (UE), a mobile computer, a laptop computer, anotebook computer, a tablet computer, an Ultrabook™ computer, a mobileinternet device, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a storagedevice, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, anoff-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phonefunctionalities with PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, avehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a portable device, a mobilephone, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, a mobile or portable GPSdevice, a DVB device, a relatively small computing device, a non-desktopcomputer, a “Carry Small Live Large” (CSLL) device, an Ultra MobileDevice (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a Mobile Internet Device (MID),an “Origami” device or computing device, a video device, an audiodevice, an A/V device, a gaming device, a media player, a Smartphone, orthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 101, node 150 and/or mobiledevice 140 may include one or more wireless communication units toperform wireless communication between node 101, node 150 and/or mobiledevice 140 and/or with one or more other wireless communication devices,e.g., as described below. For example, node 101 may include a wirelesscommunication unit 102, node 150 may include a wireless communicationunit 152 and/or mobile device 140 may include a wireless communicationunit 142.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication units 102, 152and 142 may include, or may be associated with, one or more antennas. Inone example, wireless communication unit 102 may be associated with oneor more antennas 108; wireless communication unit 152 may be associatedwith one or more antennas 154; and/or wireless communication unit 142may be associated with one or more antennas 144.

Antennas 108, 154 and/or 144 may include any type of antennas suitablefor transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals,blocks, frames, transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data. Forexample, antennas 108, 154 and/or 144 may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas 108, 154and/or 144 may include, for example, antennas suitable for directionalcommunication, e.g., using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas108, 154 and/or 144 may include a phased array antenna, a multipleelement antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, antennas 108, 154 and/or 144 may implement transmitand receive functionalities using separate transmit and receive antennaelements. In some embodiments, antennas 108, 154 and/or 144 mayimplement transmit and receive functionalities using common and/orintegrated transmit/receive elements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 101 and/or 150 may alsoinclude, for example, one or more of a processor 120, a memory unit 122,and a storage unit 124. Node 101 may optionally include other suitablehardware components and/or software components. In some demonstrativeembodiments, some or all of the components of node 101 may be enclosedin a common housing or packaging, and may be interconnected or operablyassociated using one or more wired or wireless links. In otherembodiments, components of node 101 may be distributed among multiple orseparate devices.

Processor 120 includes, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aDigital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, asingle-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multiple-core processor,a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality ofprocessors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits,circuitry, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), anApplication-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitable multi-purpose orspecific processor or controller. Processor 120 executes instructions,for example, of an Operating System (OS) of node 101 and/or of one ormore suitable applications.

Memory unit 122 includes, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), aRead Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM(SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, acache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memoryunit, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit 124 includes, forexample, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD)drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable ornon-removable storage units. Memory unit 122 and/or storage unit 124,for example, may store data processed by node 101.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 108 may include an antennaarray, which may include a plurality of antenna elements, e.g., asdescribed below. The plurality of antenna elements of the antenna arraymay be configured, for example, for creation of a plurality ofhighly-directional antenna patterns. The plurality of antenna elementsmay include, for example, about 16-36 antenna elements, or any othernumber of antenna elements, which may be placed in a predefinedgeometry. The plurality of antenna elements may be configured to form aplurality of highly directive antenna patterns or beams, which may besteered by setting appropriate signal phases at the antenna elements,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maybe configured to control antenna array 108 to generate and steer theplurality of beams to be directed to a plurality of other devices, e.g.,including node 150 and mobile device 140. Wireless communication unit102 may communicate with the plurality of other devices via a pluralityof wireless communication links over the plurality of beams formed byantenna array 108, as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may utilize the mmWave communication band to provide wirelessconnectivity for a relatively large coverage area. In one example,elements of system 100 may be deployed, for example, in outdoor spaces,e.g., a street, a stadium, and the like, and/or large indoor areas,e.g., conference halls, and the like.

For example, system 100 may include a plurality of small cells, e.g., alarge number of small cells, which may be deployed to cover the largecoverage area, e.g., as described below with reference to FIG. 2. A cellmay include a wireless communication node, e.g., a BS, which may beconfigured to cover and/or serve a relatively small number of users, forexample, mobile devices, e.g., User Equipment (UE), and the like. Thedeployment of the small cells may provide, for example, high-speedwireless access for communication by many users, e.g., simultaneously.

In one example, a first cell may include node 101, which may serve oneor more users, e.g., including mobile device 140; and a second cell mayinclude node 150, which may serve one or more users (not sown in FIG.1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication node 101 maycommunicate with the mobile devices of the first cell via a plurality ofwireless communication links (“access links”). For example, wirelesscommunication node 101 may communicate with mobile device 140 via awireless access link 103. Wireless access link 103 may include adownlink for communicating downlink data from wireless communicationnode 101 to mobile device 140 and/or an uplink for communicating uplinkdata from mobile device 140 to wireless communication node 101.

In some demonstrative embodiments, backhaul links may be utilized forcommunication between the wireless communication nodes. For example,wireless communication node 101 may communicate with wirelesscommunication node 150 via a wireless backhaul link 119.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the backhaul links may be utilizedfor direct or indirect communication between the wireless communicationnodes.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the backhaul links may be utilizedfor communicating between the wireless communication nodes and a corenetwork.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least one wireless communicationnode of system 100 may be connected to a core network, and one or moreother wireless communication nodes may communicate with the core networkvia the backhaul links.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication node 101 mayinclude at least one network interface 130 configured to communicatewith at least one core network, e.g., a telephone network, the Internet,a Local Area Network (LAN), and the like, via one or more wired and/orwireless connections. For example, network interface 130 may include amodulator-demodulator (Modem), a Cable Modem, a router, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the core network may optionally beconfigured to enable communication between one or more elements of thewireless communication network, e.g., over a wired connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the backhaul links, e.g., backhaullink 119, may include high-throughput links, which may be required tocommunicate high throughput data between the wireless communicationnodes and the core network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the wireless backhaul links, e.g.,wireless backhaul link 119, may be utilized, for example, for systemsincluding a relatively high density of nodes per area unit.

In some demonstrative embodiments, utilizing separate antenna systems ata node of system 100 for access and backhaul, e.g., one or more antennaarrays dedicated for communication over backhaul links and one or moreother antenna arrays dedicated for communication over access links, maybe beneficial in some aspects. For example, utilizing separate antennasystems at a node for access and backhaul may limit interference in anenvironment, e.g., since directional antenna arrays may be utilized fordirectional backhaul links; and/or may enable using different types ofantennas, for example, for forming the access and backhaul links indifferent frequency bands.

However, in some demonstrative embodiments, a node, e.g., a mmWave node,implementing separate antennas for access and backhaul, e.g., over themmWave band, may be bulky, expensive, complex and/or inefficient.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more wireless communicationnodes of system 100, e.g., wireless communication node 101, may utilizea common antenna array for communicating over both one or more backhaullinks, e.g., backhaul link 119, and for communicating over one or moreaccess links, e.g., access link 103, as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, high throughputs of the access linksmay require comparable high throughput backhaul links. Accordingly, itmay be beneficial to implement the backhaul links, e.g., backhaul link119, in the mmWave band as well.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with reference to adevice, e.g., node 101, utilizing one common antenna array, for example,antenna array 108, e.g., a single common antenna array, forcommunicating over both access and backhaul links, e.g., backhaul link119 and access link 103. However, in other embodiments a device, e.g., anode or any other suitable device, may include a plurality of commonantenna arrays, e.g., each configured to communicate over both theaccess and backhaul links.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless backhaul link 119 mayinclude a direct link, e.g., a P2P link, for example, to enable directcommunication between nodes 101 and 150; and/or wireless access link 103may include a direct link, e.g., a P2P link, for example, to enabledirect communication between node 101 and mobile device 140. In otherembodiments, wireless access link 103 may include a point-to-multipoint,multicast, broadcast and/or any other suitable type of link to allowcommunication between node 101 and two or more mobile devices, e.g.simultaneously.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless access link 103 and/orwireless backhaul link 119 may include a wireless communication linkover the mmWave band, e.g., the DMG band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 101 and/or 150, and/or mobiledevice 140 may perform the functionality of mmWave STAs, e.g., DMGstations (“DMG STA”). For example, nodes 101 and/or 150, and/or mobiledevice 150 may be configured to communicate over the DMG band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless access link 103 and/orwireless backhaul link 119 may include a wireless beamformed link.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless access link 103 and/orwireless backhaul link 119 may include a wireless gigabit (WiGig) link.For example, wireless access link 103 and/or wireless backhaul link 119may include a wireless beamformed link over the 60 GHZ frequency band.

In other embodiments, wireless access link 103 and/or wireless backhaullink 119 may include any other suitable link and/or may utilize anyother suitable wireless communication technology.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol antenna array 108 to form one or more first beams forcommunicating over one or more access links, e.g., including access link103, with one or more mobile devices, e.g., mobile device 140; and toform one or more second beams for communicating over one or morebackhaul links, e.g., including backhaul link 119, with one or morewireless communication nodes, e.g., node 150, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol antenna array 108 to communicate over backhaul link 119 andaccess link 103 during separate time periods, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol antenna array 108 to communicate over backhaul link 119 andaccess link 103 during a common time period, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol antenna array 108 to communicate over backhaul link 119 andaccess link 103 according to a Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output(MIMO) scheme. For example, wireless communication unit may controlantenna array 108 to communicate a MIMO communication over a pluralityof beams including one or more first beams directed to one or morewireless communication nodes, and one or more second beams directed toone or more mobile devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol antenna array 108 to transmit communications over backhaul link119 and access link 103 during a first common time period, and toreceive communications over backhaul link 119 and access link 103 duringa second common time period, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 102 maycontrol one or more first sub-arrays of antenna array 108 to form theone or more first beams, and to control one or more second sub-arrays ofantenna array 108 to form the one or more second beams, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the access and backhaul links may notbe required to operate synchronously, although they could.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the access and backhaul links may usedifferent physical (PHY) layer designs, e.g. different signal waveforms,for access and for backhaul. However, in other embodiments the same PHYsmay also be used.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates amulti-cell wireless communication system 200, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 200 may include a plurality ofwireless communication devices configured to form a plurality of cells,e.g., small cells, for communicating with one or more mobile devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may utilize the mmWave communication band to provide wirelessconnectivity for a relatively large coverage area. In one example,elements of system 200 may be deployed, for example, in outdoor spaces,e.g., a street, a stadium, and the like, and/or large indoor areas,e.g., conference halls, and the like. For example, system 200 mayinclude a large number of small cells, which may be deployed to coverthe large coverage area.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 200 may include a wirelesscommunication node 202 to communicate with one or more mobile devices203 of a first cell 270, a wireless communication node 204 tocommunicate with one or more mobile devices 205 of a second cell 271,and a wireless communication nodes 206 to communicate with one or moremobile devices 207 of a third cell 272.

In one example, node 101 (FIG. 1) may perform the functionality of onenode of nodes 202, 204 and 206; node 150 (FIG. 1) may perform thefunctionality of another node of nodes 202, 204 and 206; and/or mobiledevice 140 (FIG. 1) may perform the functionality of a mobile device ofmobile devices 203, 205 and 207.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 202 may be configured tocommunicate with mobile devices 203 within cell 270 via one or morefirst wireless communication access links 211; node 204 may beconfigured to communicate with mobile devices 205 within cell 271 viaone or more second wireless communication access links 213; and/or node206 may be configured to communicate with mobile devices 207 within cell272 via one or more third wireless communication access links 215.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may beconfigured to form one or more wireless communication backhaul links forwirelessly communicating information, e.g., backhaul information,between nodes 202, 204 and/or 206.

In one example, node 202 may communicate with node 204 over a wirelessbackhaul link 221 formed between node 202 and node 204; node 202 maycommunicate with node 206 over a wireless backhaul link 225 formedbetween node 202 and node 206; and/or node 204 may communicate with node206 over a wireless backhaul link 223 formed between node 204 and node206.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least one node of system 200 maybe connected, e.g., via a wired or wireless link 208, to a core network.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 2, node 204 may be connected to thecode network. According to this example, node 202 may communicate withthe core network via the backhaul link 221 between node 202 and node 204and/or node 206 may communicate with the core network via the backhaullink 223 between node 206 and node 204.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may beconfigured to form one or more of access links 211, 213 and 215 over themmWave band, e.g., over the 60 GHz frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may beconfigured to form one or more of backhaul links 221, 223 and 225 overthe mmWave band, e.g., over the 60 GHz frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least one of nodes 202, 204 and206 may be configured to utilize a common antenna array for commonlycommunicating over the access and backhaul links.

In one example, node 202 may utilize a common antenna array forcommunicating over access links 211 with mobile devices 203 of cell 270,as well as for communicating with node 204 over backhaul link 221between node 202 and node 204 and/or for communicating with node 206over backhaul link 225 between node 202 and node 206.

In another example, node 204 may utilize a common antenna array forcommunicating over access links 213 with mobile devices 205 of cell 271,as well as for communicating with node 202 over backhaul link 221between node 204 and node 202 and/or for communicating with node 206over backhaul link 223 between node 204 and node 206.

In another example, node 206 may utilize a common antenna array forcommunicating over access links 215 with mobile devices 207 of cell 272,as well as for communicating with node 202 over backhaul link 225between node 202 and node 206 and/or for communicating with node 204over backhaul link 223 between node 204 and node 206.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the at least one node of nodes 202,204 and 206 may include an antenna array, e.g., antenna array 108 (FIG.1), having an increased aperture, e.g., a very large aperture, which mayhave increased gain and/or may be configured to steer narrow beams indifferent angles. In one example, the antenna array, e.g., antenna array108 (FIG. 1), may be configured to steer narrow beams in differentangles in at least two dimensions, e.g., in both elevation and azimuth.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the antenna array, e.g., antennaarray 108 (FIG. 1), may be configured to create multiple beams carryingdifferent information. Accordingly, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may beconfigured to simultaneously communicate with a plurality of stations,for example, including both mobile units as well as nodes, e.g.,utilizing a Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO)communication mode. In one example, the antenna array may include amodular phased antenna array, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the nodes of system 200, e.g., nodes202, 204 and/or 206, may utilize the antenna array to perform thefunctionality of a self-backhauling small cell BS, for example, tofacilitate mmWave communication in a large area, e.g., as describedabove.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the nodes of system 200, e.g., nodes202, 204 and/or 206, may implement a time-division scheme to separatebetween the communications over the backhaul and access links of awireless communication node.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the time-division scheme may bebeneficial, for example, in order to avoid a situation in which awireless communication node is required to simultaneously perform bothreceive and transmit operations, for example, a situation, in which thewireless communication node, e.g., node 202, is required to transmitover the access link, e.g., access link 211, at the same time when thewireless communication node, e.g., node 202, is required to receive acommunication over the backhaul link, e.g., backhaul link 221 and/orbackhaul link 225; and/or a situation, in which the wirelesscommunication node, e.g., node 202, is required to receive acommunication over the access link, e.g., access link 211, at the sametime when the wireless communication node, e.g., node 202, is requiredto transmit a communication over the backhaul link, e.g., backhaul link221 and/or backhaul link 225.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the time-division scheme may allow awireless communication node, e.g., node 202, to support only one of theaccess and backhaul links at a time. Accordingly, the time-divisionscheme may be beneficial, for example, for using the entire antennagain, e.g., of antenna array 108 (FIG. 1), of the wireless communicationnode, e.g., node 202, for the backhaul links, e.g., backhaul links 221and/or 225, or the access links, e.g., links 211. As a result, anincreased cell converge of the access links may be achieved. Theincreased cell coverage may allow an increased inter-small-celldistance, e.g., without affecting backhaul link performance.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 200 may be configured toenable a node of nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 to simultaneously communicateover both the backhaul and access links, e.g., as described below. Forexample, node 202 may be allowed to simultaneously communicate via acommon antenna array, e.g., antenna array 108 (FIG. 1), over both accesslinks 211 as well as backhaul links 221 and/or 225.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 mayimplement an ordered communication scheme, which may define an orderingon the directionality of the communication performed by each wirelesscommunication node.

For example, the communications of nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may beordered, such that a node, e.g. node 202, may be allowed to eithertransmit communications over both the access and backhaul links, e.g.access links 211 and backhaul links 221 and/or 225, or to receivecommunications over both the access and backhaul links, e.g. accesslinks 211 and backhaul links 221 and/or 225.

In some demonstrative embodiments, nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 may includean antenna array, e.g., antenna array 108 (FIG. 1), and/or a wirelesscommunication unit, e.g., wireless communication unit 102 (FIG. 1),configured to perform spatial multiplexing of the access and backhaullinks, e.g., according to a MU-MIMO scheme.

In one example, node 202 may generate a plurality of directional beamsincluding one or more directional beams for communicating over accesslinks 211, e.g., for communicating access traffic to and/or from mobiledevices 203; and one or more directional beams for communicating overbackhaul links, e.g., two directional beams for communicating overbackhaul links 221 and 225 with nodes 204 and 206.

In another example, node 204 may generate a plurality of directionalbeams including one or more directional beams for communicating overaccess links 213, e.g., for communicating access traffic to and/or frommobile devices 205; and one or more directional beams for communicatingover backhaul links, e.g., two directional beams for communicating overbackhaul links 221 and 223 with nodes 202 and 206.

In another example, node 206 may generate a plurality of directionalbeams including one or more directional beams for communicating overaccess links 215, e.g., for communicating access traffic to and/or frommobile devices 207; and one or more directional beams for communicatingover backhaul links, e.g., two directional beams for communicating overbackhaul links 225 and 223 with nodes 202 and 204.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the spatial multiplexing scheme mayprovide a reduced cell coverage and, accordingly, a reducedinter-small-cell distance, e.g., compared to the time-division schemedescribed above, for example, since spatial-multiplexing antenna signalprocessing may be more sensitive to interference and/or noise.

However, in some demonstrative embodiments, the spatial multiplexingscheme may provide an increased aggregate throughput per small cell,e.g., since data may be simultaneously communicated by the wirelesscommunication node of the small cell over all the links, e.g., includingboth one or more of the access links as well as one or more of thebackhaul links, using the MU-MIMO scheme.

Reference is also made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates anordered communication scheme 300 for communication of a first node 302,a second node 304 and a third node 306, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. In one example, nodes 302, 304 and/or 306 mayperform the functionality of nodes 202, 204 and/or 206 (FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a first predefined period may beallocated, during which one or more of nodes 302, 304 and 306 may beallowed to only transmit communications over the access and/or backhaullinks, and one or more other nodes o nodes 302, 304 and 306 may beallowed to only receive communications over the access and/or backhaullinks.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, during a first predefined time period,node 302 may be allowed to utilize an antenna array of node 302, e.g.,antenna array 108 (FIG. 1), to only receive communications over one ormore access links 311 and one or more backhaul links, e.g., a backhaullink 321 between node 302 and 304; node 304 may be allowed to utilize anantenna array of node 304 to only transmit communications over one ormore access links 313 and one or more backhaul links, e.g., backhaullink 321 and/or a backhaul link 323 between nodes 304 and 306; and node306 may be allowed to utilize an antenna array of node 306 to onlyreceive communications over one or more access links 315 and one or morebackhaul links, e.g., backhaul link 323.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a second predefined time period maybe allocated, e.g., successive to the first time period. The second timeperiod may be configured, for example, to allow a wireless communicationnode which, during the first time period, was allowed to transmitcommunication over the backhaul and access links, to receivecommunications over the backhaul and access links, and/or to allow awireless communication which, during the first time period, was allowedto receive communications over the backhaul and access links, totransmit over the backhaul and access links.

For example, at least one other time period may be allocated, e.g.,following the first period discussed above, during which node 302 may beallowed to utilize an antenna array of node 302, e.g., antenna array 108(FIG. 1), to only transmit communications over one or more access links311 and one or more backhaul links, e.g., backhaul link 321 between node302 and 304; node 304 may be allowed to utilize an antenna array of node304 to only receive communications over one or more access links 313 andone or more backhaul links, e.g., backhaul link 321 and/or backhaul link323 between nodes 304 and 306; and/or node 306 may be allowed to utilizean antenna array of node 306 to only transmit communications over one ormore access links 315 and one or more backhaul links, e.g., backhaullink 323.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates awireless communication node 400, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, node 400 may perform the functionality of node101 (FIG. 1), node 150 (FIG. 1), node 202 (FIG. 2), node 204 (FIG. 2),node 206 (FIG. 2), node 302 (FIG. 3), node 304 (FIG. 3) and/or node 306(FIG. 3).

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may be configured to connectto a core network via a core network connection 402. For example, node400 may perform the functionality of node 101 (FIG. 1) or node 204 (FIG.2).

In other embodiments, node 400 may not be connected to the core network.For example, node 400 may perform the functionality of node 150 (FIG.1), node 202 (FIG. 2), or node 206 (FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may include at least oneantenna array 404 to commonly form a plurality of directional beams 405,e.g., including n directional beams, wherein n is equal to or greaterthan two. The n directional beams 405 may include one or more backhaulbeams and one or more access beams. For example, directional beams 405may include k backhaul beams and (n-k) access beams, wherein k is equalto or greater than one. In one example, k may be greater than one.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 4, directional beams 405 may includefour directional beams including two backhaul beams 406 and 407 and twoaccess beams 408 and 409. In other embodiments, directional beams 405may include any other number of access beams and/or any other number ofbackhaul beams.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may utilize the backhaulbeams to communicate with one or more other nodes over one or morebackhaul links. For example, node 400 may communicate with a node 410,e.g., a BS, denoted BS1, via a backhaul link over backhaul beam 406,and/or node 400 may communicate with a node 412, e.g., a BS, denotedBS3, via a backhaul link over backhaul beam 407.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may utilize the access beamsto communicate with one or more mobile devices, e.g., of a cellcontrolled by node 400, over one or more access links. For example, node400 may communicate with a mobile device 416, denoted UE1, via an accesslink over access beam 408, and/or node 400 may communicate with a mobiledevice 418, denoted UE2, via an access link over access beam 409.

For example, backhaul beam 406 may be formed by antenna array 404, e.g.,according to a beamforming training procedure, which may be performedbetween node 400 and node 410; backhaul beam 407 may be formed byantenna array 404, e.g., according to a beamforming training procedure,which may be performed between node 400 and node 412; access beam 408may be formed by antenna array 404, e.g., according to a beamformingtraining procedure, which may be performed between node 400 and mobiledevice 416; and/or access beam 409 may be formed by antenna array 404,e.g., according to a beamforming training procedure, which may beperformed between node 400 and mobile device 418.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a backhaul network may include, forexample, the connection to/from the core network and/or the wirelessbackhaul links with nodes 410 and 412. Node 400 may communicate databetween the backhaul network and mobile devices 416 and 418 via accesslinks 408 and 409.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may include a processor 420(“MIMO and beamforming processor”) to control antenna array 404 to formbeams 405 and to process communications via beamformed links over beams405, for example, according to a MIMO processing scheme, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, processor 420 and antenna array 404may be implemented as part of a modular antenna array 419, e.g., asdescribed below with reference to FIG. 5.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may include one or morebaseband (BB) processors 422, e.g., k processors 422 denoted BB#1 . . .BB#k, to process communications over the plurality of backhaul beams,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may include one or more BBprocessors 424, e.g., n-k processors 422 denoted BB#k+1 . . . BB#n, toprocess communications over the plurality of access beams, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may include a backhaulprocessor 426 to process and/or control communications over the backhaullinks, and an access processor 428 to process and/or controlcommunications over the access links, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4, accessprocessor 428 and backhaul processor 426 may be implemented as twoseparate elements of node 400. In other embodiments, access processor428 and backhaul processor 426 may be implemented as part of a commonprocessor or controller, e.g., a Media-Access-Control (MAC) processor ofnode 400.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may process datacommunicated from a first mobile device, e.g., mobile device 416, whichmay be connected to node 400 via an access beam, e.g., access beam 408,to another mobile device (“the destination mobile device”). In oneexample, the destination mobile device may be connected to node 400. Forexample, the destination mobile device may include UE2 connected to node400 via access beam 409. In another example, the destination mobiledevice may be connected to another node, e.g., to BS1, which in turn maybe connected to node 400 over a backhaul beam, e.g., backhaul beam 406.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may receive a data signalfrom mobile device 416 via access beam 408.

In some demonstrative embodiments, processor 420 may separate the datasignal from other signals, e.g., backhaul signals and/or access signalsreceived over other beams of beams 405.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a BB processor of BB processors 424corresponding to access beam 408, e.g., BB#k+1, may decode the separatedsignal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, access processor 428 may receive thedecoded data, and may control forwarding of the decoded data towards thedestination mobile device.

In one example, the destination mobile device is connected to node 400,e.g., the destination mobile device includes mobile device 418 connectedto node 400 over the access beam 409. According to this example, accessprocessor 428 may select to send the decoded data to a basebandprocessor of BB processors 424, e.g. the BB #n, corresponding to accessbeam 409. The BB processor BB#n may encode the data for transmission tomobile device 418 over the access beam 409 formed by antenna array 404.

In another example, the destination mobile device is connected toanother node, e.g., to BS1 410, which may be connected to node 400 via abackhaul beam, e.g., backhaul beam 406. According to this example,access processor 428 may send the data received from UE1 to backhaulprocessor 426. Backhaul processor 426 may send the data to a BBprocessor 422, e.g., the BB #1, corresponding to the backhaul link ofthe other node. The BB processor BB#1 may encode and modulate the datafor transmission to node 410 over backhaul beam 406 formed by antennaarray 404.

In another example, the destination mobile device may be connected to aremote node, which may communicate with node 400 over the core network.According to this example, access processor 428 may send the data tobackhaul processor 426, and backhaul processor 426 may forward the datato the core network, e.g., via connection 402.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may communicate dataintended for the UE1, e.g., by reversing the operations described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, backhaul processor 426 may beconfigured to distribute traffic between one or more other nodesconnected to node 400 via wire, e.g., via the core network, orwirelessly, e.g., via the backhaul links.

In one example, node 400 may forward traffic received from a first node,e.g., node 410, connected to node 400 via a first backhaul beam, e.g.,backhaul beam 406, to a second node, e.g., node 412, connected to node400 via a second backhaul beam, e.g., backhaul beam 407. According tothis example, node 400 may receive a data signal from node 410 viabackhaul beam 406, and processor 420 may separate the data signal fromother signals, e.g., access signals and/or backhaul signals received viaother beams of beams 405. A BB processor of BB processors 422corresponding to backhaul beam 406, e.g., BB#1, may decode the separatedsignal. Backhaul processor 426 may receive the decoded data, and mayforward the decoded data to a BB processor 422 corresponding to backhaulbeam 407, e.g., the BB #k. The BB processor 422 may encode, modulate andtransmit the data to node 412 over backhaul beam 407.

In another example, node 400 may be configured to forward traffic fromthe core network to a node, e.g., node 410, connected to node 400 via awireless backhaul beam, e.g., over beam 406.

For example, backhaul processor 426 may receive the data from the corenetwork, e.g., via connection 402. Backhaul processor 426 may forwardthe data to be processed by a BB processor of BB processors 422, e.g.,BB#1, corresponding to backhaul beam 406. BB processor BB#1 may encode,modulate and transmit the data to node 410 over backhaul beam 406.

In some demonstrative embodiments, node 400 may communicate data fromnode 410 to the core network, e.g., by reversing the operationsdescribed above.

Following is a description of a modular antenna array, which may beutilized by one or more of the nodes of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and/or 4, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments. In other embodiments,any other suitable antenna array may be used. For example, the modularantenna array may perform the functionality of antenna array 108 (FIG.1) and/or antenna array 404 (FIG. 4). In some demonstrative embodiments,the modular antenna array may also perform shared MIMO and/orbeamforming processing for a plurality of beams, e.g., the modularantenna array may perform the functionality of processor 420 (FIG. 4).

In some demonstrative embodiments, an antenna array may include amodular architecture configured to synthesize larger composite antennaarrays from smaller sub-array antenna modules. A combination of RFbeamforming in the sub-array antenna modules and baseband beamformingbetween sub-array antenna modules may provide, for example, increasedbeamforming capabilities, for example, in terms of beam width, gain,coverage and beam steering. The antenna array may be configured, forexample, to operate in the mmWave region of the RF spectrum and, inparticular, the 60 GHz region associated with the use of, for example,wireless personal area network (WPAN) and wireless local area network(WLAN) communication systems.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates amodular antenna array 500, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may includeat least one antenna array 507 including a plurality of antenna elements517. The plurality of antenna elements 517 may be configured, forexample, for creation of a highly directional antenna pattern. Theplurality of antenna elements 517 may include, for example, about 16-36antenna elements, or any other number of antenna elements, which may beplaced in a predefined geometry. The plurality of antenna elements 517may be configured to form a plurality of highly directive antennapatterns or beams, which may be steered by setting appropriate signalphases at antenna elements 517, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, array 507 may include a plurality ofantenna subarrays. For example, array 507 may include a first antennasubarray 535, and a second antenna subarray 545. In other embodiments,array 507 may include any other number of antenna subarrays, e.g., morethan two antenna subarrays.

The phrase “antenna subarray” as used herein may relate to a group ofantenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements 517, which may becoupled, for example, to a common RF chain. In one example, array 507may include an antenna array, which may be divided into a plurality of,e.g., independent subarrays, each capable of independently generating adirectional beam. In another example, array 507 may include a pluralityof different antenna arrays to generate a plurality of directionalbeams. One or more of the different antenna arrays may be divided intotwo or more subarrays.

In some demonstrative embodiments, first antenna subarray 535 mayinclude a first plurality of antenna elements of the plurality ofantenna elements 517 configured to form a first directional beam 537directed in a first direction 539.

In some demonstrative embodiments, second antenna subarray 545 mayinclude a second, e.g., different, plurality of antenna elements of theplurality of antenna elements 517 configured to form a seconddirectional beam 547 directed in a second direction 549.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to amodular antenna array, e.g., modular antenna array 500, including twosub-arrays, e.g., antenna sub-arrays 535 and 545, configured to form twodirectional beams. However, in other embodiments, the modular antennaarray may include any other plurality of antenna-sub-arrays to form anyother plurality of directional beams. For example, antenna array 404(FIG. 4) may include n antenna sub-arrays to form the n directionalbeams 405 (FIG. 4).

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may includea plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) chains configured to control thefirst and second pluralities of antenna elements of antenna subarrays535 and 545.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of RF chains may becoupled to the plurality of antenna subarrays. For example, modularantenna array 500 may include a first RF chain 530 connected to firstantenna subarray 535, and a second RF chain 540 connected to secondantenna subarray 545. In other embodiments, modular antenna array 500may include any other number of RF chains coupled to the any othernumber of the plurality of antenna subarrays, e.g., more than two RFchains connected to more than two antenna subarrays.

In some demonstrative embodiments, RF chains 530 and/or 540 may includeor may be included as part of a radio frequency integrated circuit(RFIC), which may be connected to antenna subarrays 535 and 545 througha plurality of feed lines 518, which may be, for example, micro-stripfeed lines.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of RF chains may enableprocessing of two or more independent RF signals, e.g., carryingdifferent data. For example, RF chain 530 may process an RF signal 531,and RF chain 540 may process an RF signal 541.

In some demonstrative embodiments, RF chain 530 may include a pluralityof phase shifters 515 configured to adjust the phases of the antennaelements of antenna subarray 535. For example, a phase shifter of phaseshifters 515 may be configured to adjust the phase of a correspondingantenna element of antenna subarray 535.

For example, phases of the antenna elements of antenna subarrays 535 maybe shifted, e.g., by phase shifters 515, to provide a constructiveand/or destructive interference, configured to change the beamformingscheme of antenna subarray 535 and to change the direction ofdirectional beam 537.

In some demonstrative embodiments, RF chain 540 may include a pluralityof phase shifters 514 configured to adjust the phases of the antennaelements of antenna subarray 545. For example, a phase shifter of phaseshifters 514 may be configured to adjust the phase of a correspondingantenna element of antenna subarray 545.

For example, phases of the antenna elements of antenna subarrays 545 maybe shifted, e.g., by phase shifters 514, to provide a constructiveand/or destructive interference, configured to change the beamformingscheme of antenna subarray 545 and to change the direction ofdirectional beam 547.

Phase shifters 515 and/or 514 may be discrete, e.g., configured torotate the phase of the antenna elements of antenna subarrays 535 and/or545 to a limited set of values, for example, 0, ±π/2, and π, allowingonly a relatively coarse beamforming for changing a direction ofdirectional beams 537 and/or 547.

In some demonstrative embodiments, RF chain 530 may include asummer/splitter block 513 coupled to phase shifters 515 and/or RF chain540 may include a summer/splitter block 512 coupled to phase shifters514.

In some demonstrative embodiments, summer/splitter block 513 may includea splitter 534, e.g., a multiplexer, configured to reproduce and splitRF signal 531 between the antenna elements of antenna subarray 535 andto couple the reproduced signals of RF signal 531 to phase shifters 515,e.g., when transmitting RF signal 531 via beam 537.

In some demonstrative embodiments, summer/splitter block 513 may includea summer 536 configured to sum into RF signal 531 signals received fromthe antenna elements of antenna subarray 535, e.g., when receiving RFsignal 531 via beam 537.

In some demonstrative embodiments, utilizing two or more RF chains mayenable baseband processing of two or more independent signals, e.g.,carrying different data, communicated via two or more directional beams.In contrast, utilizing a single RF chain may enable baseband processingof only one signal, e.g., even if a large number of antenna elements 517are utilized.

For example, RF chains 530 and 540 may enable baseband processing, e.g.,independent baseband processing, of RF signals 531 and 541 communicatedvia directional beams 537 and 547.

In some demonstrative embodiments, RF signal 531 may include datacommunicated via an access link, e.g., access link 103 (FIG. 1), overbeam 537, and RF signal 541 may include data communicated via a backhaullink, e.g., backhaul link 119 (FIG. 1), over beam 547.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may utilizethe two or more RF chains to perform beamformed diversity communication,e.g., as described below.

The phrase “beamformed diversity communication”, as used herein mayrelate to any communication utilizing a plurality of beams.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may includea baseband 550 configured to control antenna subarrays 535 and 545 toform directional beams 537 and 547 directed to directions 539 and 549for communicating a MIMO wireless transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, baseband 550 may process data 521corresponding to the MIMO wireless transmission communicated utilizing aMIMO beamformed scheme, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, data 521 may include datacommunicated over one or more backhaul links, e.g., backhaul link 119(FIG. 1), and one or more access links, e.g., access link 103 (FIG. 1).

For example, input data 521 may include one or more data streamsprocessed by BB processors 422 (FIG. 4) for transmission over one ormore of beams 406 and 407 (FIG. 4); one or more data streams receivedover one or more of beams 406 and 407 (FIG. 4) and processed by BBprocessors 422 (FIG. 4); one or more data streams processed by BBprocessors 424 (FIG. 4) for transmission over one or more of beams 408and 409 (FIG. 4); and/or one or more data streams received over one ormore of beams 408 and 409 (FIG. 4) and processed by BB processors 424(FIG. 4), e.g., as described above.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with reference to awireless communication unit, e.g., modular antenna array 500, configuredto perform both transmission and reception of a MIMO beamformedcommunication. Other embodiments may include a wireless communicationunit capable of performing only one of transmission and reception of aMIMO beamformed communication.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with reference to acommunication system, e.g., wireless communication system 500, whereinboth the TX side and the RX side utilize a plurality of antennasubarrays to communicate a MIMO transmission. However, other embodimentsmay be implemented with respect to systems configured to communicate anyother diversity communication, for example, systems in which only one ofthe Tx and Rx sides utilizes a plurality of antenna subarrays, e.g., toform a Single-Input-Multi-Output (SIMO) and/or aMulti-Input-Single-Output (MISO) beamformed link. For example, one ofthe Tx and Rx sides may utilize an omni-directional antenna, and anotherone of the Tx and Rx sides may utilize a multi-array transceiver, e.g.,modular antenna array 500.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may includea plurality of baseband (BB) to RF (BB2RF) converters interfacingbetween the plurality of RF chains and baseband 550. For example,modular antenna array 500 may include BB2RF converters 533 interfacingbetween RF chain 530 and baseband 550, and BB2RF converters 543interfacing between RF chain 540 and baseband 550. In other embodiments,modular antenna array 500 may include any other number of BB2RFconvertors connecting between baseband 550 and any other number of RFchains, e.g., more than two.

In some demonstrative embodiments, BB2RF converter 533 may convert RFsignal 531 into baseband data signal 527 and vice versa, and/or BB2RFconverters 543 may convert RF signal 541 into baseband data signal 529and vice versa.

In one example, BB2RF converter 533 may convert RF signal 531 intobaseband data signal 527, and/or BB2RF converter 543 may convert RFsignal 541 into baseband data signal 529, e.g., if modular antenna array500 receives the MIMO wireless transmission via beams 537 and/or 547.

In another example, BB2RF converter 533 may convert baseband data signal527 into RF signal 531 and/or BB2RF converter 543 may convert basebanddata signal 529 into RF signal 541, e.g., if modular antenna array 500transmits the MIMO wireless transmission via beams 537 and/or 547.

In some demonstrative embodiments, BB2RF converters 533 and/or 543 mayinclude down-converters, configured to convert an RF signal into abaseband data signal, and to provide the baseband data signal tobaseband 550, e.g., if modular antenna array 500 receives the MIMOwireless transmission.

For example, BB2Rf converter 533 may include a down converter 532configured to down-convert RF signal 531 into data signal 527, and toprovide data signal 527 to baseband 550.

In some demonstrative embodiments, baseband to RF converters 533 and/or543 may include up-converters, configured to convert a baseband datasignal into an RF signal and to provide the RF signal to an RF chain,e.g., if modular antenna array 500 transmits the MIMO wirelesstransmission.

For example, BB2RF converter 533 may include an up-converter 538configured to up-convert data signal 527 into RF signal 531 and toprovide RF signal 531 to RF chain 530.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may beconfigured to perform hybrid beamforming. The hybrid beamforming mayinclude, for example, performing a coarse beamforming in RF chains 530and/or 540, e.g., using phase-shifters 539 and/or 549; and finebeamforming in baseband 550, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the coarse beamforming may be performed, for example, aspart of a beamforming procedure for setting up a beamformed link.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the fine beamforming may includediversity processing, e.g., MIMO processing, MISO processing and/or SIMOprocessing, at baseband 550. For example, the MIMO processing mayinclude, for example, closed-loop (CL) MIMO processing, Open Loop (OL)MIMO processing, Space-Block Code (SBC) MIMO processing, e.g., SpaceTime Block Code (STBC) MIMO processing, Space Frequency Block Code(SFBC) MIMO processing, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may includea controller 522 configured to control RF Chains 535 and 545 andbaseband 550 to perform the coarse beamforming and/or the finebeamforming.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 522 may control antennasubarrays 535 and/or 545 utilizing a control signal 528 carrying theamount of phase shift to be applied to one or more phase shifters ofphase shifters 515 and/or 514.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the phase shift adjustments to phaseshifters 515 may determine and/or control the beam width, gain and/ordirection of directional beam 537 formed by antenna subarray 535.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the phase shift adjustments to phaseshifters 514 may determine and/or control the beam width, gain and/ordirection of directional beam 547 forms by antenna subarray 545.

In some demonstrative embodiments, each phase shifter of an antennaelement of antenna subarrays 535 and/or 545 may perform a local phaseadjustment to a signal to create a phase distribution across antennaelements to steer a beam in a desired direction.

In some demonstrative embodiments, control signal 528 may includeweighting coefficients, which may be generated and/or derived fromcontroller 522, configured to steer directional beams 537 and/or 547.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 522 may provide viacontrol signal 528 a first set of weighting coefficients to phaseshifters 515 configured to form a local phase adjustment to one or moreantenna elements of antenna subarray 535, resulting in directing beam537 to direction 539.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 522 may provide viacontrol signal 528 a second, e.g., different set of weightingcoefficients, to phase shifters 514 configured to form a local phaseadjustment to one or more antenna elements of antenna subarray 545,resulting in directing beam 547 to direction 549.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modular antenna array 500 may beutilized by a node, e.g., node 400 (FIG. 4), to form a plurality ofindependent directional communication beams, e.g., beams 405 (FIG. 4),including one or more access beams, e.g., beams 408 and 409 (FIG. 4),and one or more backhaul beams, e.g., beams 406 and 407 (FIG. 4).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a plurality of different signals,e.g., signals corresponding to BB processors 422 and 424 (FIG. 4), maybe communicated via a plurality of beamformed links formed by theplurality of beamformed beams. Each beamformed link, which correspondsto an antenna subarray of the plurality of antenna subarrays, maycommunicate a signal, for example, via a plurality of antenna elementsof the antenna subarray.

For example, a first signal, e.g., signal 527, may be communicated via afirst beamformed link formed by directional beam 537 generated byantenna subarray 535, and a second, e.g., different signal, for example,signal 529, may be communicated via a second beamformed link formed bydirectional beam 547 generated by antenna subarray 545.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which schematically illustrates aplanar modular antenna array 602, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, planar antenna array 602 may perform thefunctionality of modular antenna array 500 (FIG. 5).

In some demonstrative embodiments, planar antenna array 600 may includea planar array of antenna modules 630, e.g., arranged in atwo-dimensional array. For example, antenna modules 630 may be arrangedin one or more rows, e.g., two rows, and one or more columns, e.g., twocolumns.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an antenna module 630 may include aplurality of antenna elements 617, e.g., including antenna elements 517(FIG. 5).

In some demonstrative embodiments, antenna elements 617 of an antennamodule 630 may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. For example,antenna elements 617 of the antenna module 630 may be arranged in one ormore rows, e.g., two or more rows, and one or more columns, e.g., two ormore columns.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antenna module 630 may also includean RF chain, e.g., RF chain 530 (FIG. 5) or RF chain 540 (FIG. 5), tocontrol antenna elements 617, e.g., as described above with reference toFIG. 5.

For example, antenna modules 630 may be controlled by a controller 622via control links 610. Controller 622 may be implemented, for example,as part of a BB 650. For example, controller 620 may perform thefunctionality of controller 522 (FIG. 5) and/or BB 650 may perform thefunctionality of BB 550 (FIG. 5). Data links 612 may transfer datasignals between BB 650 and modules 630. For example, control links 610may transfer control signals 528 (FIG. 5), and/or data links maytransfer data signals 527 and/or 529 (FIG. 5).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the planar arrangement of antennamodules 630 and the planar arrangement of antenna elements 617 may beadvantageous, for example, for beam steering in two dimensions, e.g.,azimuth and elevation and/or any other dimensions.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which schematically illustrates amethod of wireless backhaul and access communication, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more of theoperations of the method of FIG. 7 may be performed by a wirelesscommunication system, e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1); a wirelesscommunication node, e.g., node 101 (FIG. 1); and/or a wirelesscommunication unit, e.g., wireless communication units 102 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 702, the method may include controlling an antennaarray of a wireless communication node to form one or more first beamsfor communicating over one or more wireless access links between thewireless communication node and one or more mobile devices. For example,wireless communication unit 102 (FIG. 1) may control antenna array 108(FIG. 1) to form a directional beam for communicating over access link103 (FIG. 1) between wireless communication node 101 (FIG. 1) and mobiledevice 140 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 704, the method may include controlling theantenna array to form one or more second beams for communicating overone or more wireless backhaul links between the wireless communicationnode and one or more other wireless communication nodes. For example,wireless communication unit 102 (FIG. 1) may control antenna array 108(FIG. 1) to form a directional beam for communicating over backhaul link119 (FIG. 1) between wireless communication node 101 (FIG. 1) and mobiledevice 140 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 706, the method may include communicating over thebackhaul and access links.

As indicated at block 708, communicating over the backhaul and accesslinks may include communicating over the backhaul and access linksduring separate time periods. For example, wireless communication unit102 (FIG. 1) may control antenna array 108 (FIG. 1) to communicate overlinks 103 and 119 during separate time periods, e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at block 710, communicating over the backhaul and accesslinks may include communicating over the backhaul and access linksduring a common time period. For example, wireless communication unit102 (FIG. 1) may control antenna array 108 (FIG. 1) to communicate overlinks 103 and 119 during a common time periods, e.g., as described abovewith reference to FIG. 3.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 800, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 800 may include a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium802 to store logic 804, which may be used, for example, to perform atleast part of the functionality of wireless communication node 101 (FIG.1), wireless communication unit 102 (FIG. 1), wireless communicationnodes 202, 204, and/or 206 (FIG. 2), wireless communication nodes 302,304 and/or 306 (FIG. 3) and/or wireless communication node 400 (FIG. 4),and/or to perform one or more operations of the method of FIG. 7. Thephrase “non-transitory machine-readable medium” is directed to includeall computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitorypropagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 800 and/or machine-readablestorage medium 802 may include one or more types of computer-readablestorage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory,non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable ornon-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. Forexample, machine-readable storage medium 802 may include, RAM, DRAM,Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), CompactDisk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory(e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM),polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory,silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppydisk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magneticcard, an optical card, a tape, a cassette, and the like. Thecomputer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involvedwith downloading or transferring a computer program from a remotecomputer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in acarrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link,e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 804 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 804 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

EXAMPLES

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes an apparatus of wireless communication, the apparatuscomprising a wireless communication unit to control an antenna array toform one or more first beams for communicating over one or more accesslinks and to form one or more second beams for communicating over one ormore backhaul links, the access links including wireless communicationlinks between a wireless communication node and one or more mobiledevices, and the backhaul links including wireless communication linksbetween the wireless node and one or more other wireless communicationnodes.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links during separate timeperiods.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links during a common timeperiod.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 3 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links according to aMulti-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of Example 3 or 4 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto transmit communications over the backhaul and access links during afirst common time period, and to receive communications over thebackhaul and access links during a second common time period.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5 andoptionally, wherein the backhaul links comprise links for communicatingtraffic between the mobile devices and a core network.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-6 andoptionally, wherein the controller is to control one or more firstsub-arrays of the antenna array to form the one or more first beams, andto control one or more second sub-arrays of the antenna array to formthe one or more second beams.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-8 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprise linksover a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directional multi-gigabit(DMG) band.

Example 10 include a wireless communication system comprising at leastone wireless communication node to communicate with one or more mobiledevices of a wireless communication cell, the wireless communicationnode comprising an antenna array; and a wireless communication unit tocontrol the antenna array to form one or more first beams forcommunicating over one or more access links and to form one or moresecond beams for communicating over one or more backhaul links, theaccess links including wireless communication links between the wirelesscommunication node and the mobile devices of the wireless communicationcell, and the backhaul links including wireless communication linksbetween the wireless communication node and one or more other wirelesscommunication nodes of one or more other wireless communication cells.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of Example 10 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links during separate timeperiods.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of Example 10 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links during a common timeperiod.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of Example 12 and optionally,wherein the wireless communication unit is to control the antenna arrayto communicate over the backhaul and access links according to aMulti-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of Example 12 or 13 andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication unit is to control theantenna array to transmit communications over the backhaul and accesslinks during a first common time period, and to receive communicationsover the backhaul and access links during a second common time period.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-14 andoptionally, wherein the backhaul links comprise links for communicatingtraffic between the mobile devices and a core network.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-15 andoptionally, wherein the controller is to control one or more firstsub-arrays of the antenna array to form the one or more first beams, andto control one or more second sub-arrays of the antenna array to formthe one or more second beams.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-16 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-17 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprise linksover a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directional multi-gigabit(DMG) band.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-18 andoptionally comprising a plurality of wireless communication nodesforming a plurality of wireless communication cells, the plurality ofwireless communication nodes to communicate over a backhaul networkformed by a plurality of wireless backhaul links between the pluralityof wireless communication nodes.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 10-19 andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication node comprises a BaseStation (BS).

Example 21 includes a product including a non-transitory storage mediumhaving stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine,result in controlling an antenna array of a wireless communication nodeto form one or more first beams for communicating over one or morewireless access links between the wireless communication node and one ormore mobile devices; and controlling the antenna array to form one ormore second beams for communicating over one or more wireless backhaullinks between the wireless communication node and one or more otherwireless communication nodes.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 21 and optionally,wherein the instructions result in communicating over the backhaul andaccess links during separate time periods.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 21 and optionally,wherein the instructions result in communicating over the backhaul andaccess links during a common time period.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of Example 23 and optionally,wherein the instructions result in communicating over the backhaul andaccess links according to a Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output(MIMO) scheme.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 23 or 24 andoptionally, wherein the instructions result in transmittingcommunications over the backhaul and access links during a first commontime period, and receiving communications over the backhaul and accesslinks during a second common time period.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-25 andoptionally, wherein the backhaul links comprise links for communicatingtraffic between the mobile devices and a core network.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-26 andoptionally, wherein the instructions result in controlling one or morefirst sub-arrays of the antenna array to form the one or more firstbeams, and controlling one or more second sub-arrays of the antennaarray to form the one or more second beams.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-27 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-28 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprise linksover a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directional multi-gigabit(DMG) band.

Example 30 includes a method of wireless communication, the methodcomprising controlling an antenna array of a wireless communication nodeto form one or more first beams for communicating over one or morewireless access links between the wireless communication node and one ormore mobile devices; and controlling the antenna array to form one ormore second beams for communicating over one or more wireless backhaullinks between the wireless communication node and one or more otherwireless communication nodes.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30 and optionallycomprising communicating over the backhaul and access links duringseparate time periods.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 30 and optionallycomprising communicating over the backhaul and access links during acommon time period.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 32 and optionallycomprising communicating over the backhaul and access links according toa Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 32 or 33 andoptionally comprising transmitting communications over the backhaul andaccess links during a first common time period, and receivingcommunications over the backhaul and access links during a second commontime period.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-34 andoptionally, wherein the backhaul links comprise links for communicatingtraffic between the mobile devices and a core network.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-35 andoptionally comprising controlling one or more first sub-arrays of theantenna array to form the one or more first beams, and controlling oneor more second sub-arrays of the antenna array to form the one or moresecond beams.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-36 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-37 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprise linksover a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directional multi-gigabit(DMG) band.

Example 39 includes an apparatus of wireless communication, theapparatus comprising means for controlling an antenna array of awireless communication node to form one or more first beams forcommunicating over one or more wireless access links between thewireless communication node and one or more mobile devices, andcontrolling the antenna array to form one or more second beams forcommunicating over one or more wireless backhaul links between thewireless communication node and one or more other wireless communicationnodes.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of Example 39 and optionallycomprising means for communicating over the backhaul and access linksduring separate time periods.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 39 and optionallycomprising means for communicating over the backhaul and access linksduring a common time period.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 41 and optionallycomprising means for communicating over the backhaul and access linksaccording to a Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of Example 41 or 42 andoptionally comprising means for transmitting communications over thebackhaul and access links during a first common time period, and meansfor receiving communications over the backhaul and access links during asecond common time period.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-43 andoptionally, wherein the backhaul links comprise links for communicatingtraffic between the mobile devices and a core network.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-44 andoptionally comprising means for controlling one or more first sub-arraysof the antenna array to form the one or more first beams, andcontrolling one or more second sub-arrays of the antenna array to formthe one or more second beams.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-45 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-46 andoptionally, wherein the access links and backhaul links comprise linksover a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directional multi-gigabit(DMG) band.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a wireless communicationunit to control an antenna array to form one or more first beams forcommunicating over one or more access links and to form one or moresecond beams for communicating over one or more backhaul links, saidaccess links including wireless communication links between a wirelesscommunication node and one or more mobile devices, and said backhaullinks including wireless communication links between said wireless nodeand one or more other wireless communication nodes.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said wireless communication unit is to control saidantenna array to communicate over said backhaul and access links duringseparate time periods.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidwireless communication unit is to control said antenna array tocommunicate over said backhaul and access links during a common timeperiod.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said wireless communicationunit is to control said antenna array to communicate over said backhauland access links according to a Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output(MIMO) scheme.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said wirelesscommunication unit is to control said antenna array to transmitcommunications over said backhaul and access links during a first commontime period, and to receive communications over said backhaul and accesslinks during a second common time period.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said backhaul links comprise links for communicating trafficbetween said mobile devices and a core network.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said controller is to control one or more firstsub-arrays of said antenna array to form said one or more first beams,and to control one or more second sub-arrays of said antenna array toform said one or more second beams.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid access links and backhaul links comprise beamformed links.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said access links and backhaul linkscomprise links over a millimeter-wave (mmWave) band or a directionalmulti-gigabit (DMG) band.
 10. A wireless communication systemcomprising: at least one wireless communication node to communicate withone or more mobile devices of a wireless communication cell, saidwireless communication node comprising: an antenna array; and a wirelesscommunication unit to control said antenna array to form one or morefirst beams for communicating over one or more access links and to formone or more second beams for communicating over one or more backhaullinks, said access links including wireless communication links betweensaid wireless communication node and said mobile devices of saidwireless communication cell, and said backhaul links including wirelesscommunication links between said wireless communication node and one ormore other wireless communication nodes of one or more other wirelesscommunication cells.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said wirelesscommunication unit is to control said antenna array to communicate oversaid backhaul and access links during separate time periods.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein said wireless communication unit is tocontrol said antenna array to communicate over said backhaul and accesslinks during a common time period.
 13. The system of claim 12, whereinsaid wireless communication unit is to control said antenna array tocommunicate over said backhaul and access links according to aMulti-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.
 14. The systemof claim 12, wherein said wireless communication unit is to control saidantenna array to transmit communications over said backhaul and accesslinks during a first common time period, and to receive communicationsover said backhaul and access links during a second common time period.15. The system of claim 10, wherein said backhaul links comprise linksfor communicating traffic between said mobile devices and a corenetwork.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is tocontrol one or more first sub-arrays of said antenna array to form saidone or more first beams, and to control one or more second sub-arrays ofsaid antenna array to form said one or more second beams.
 17. The systemof claim 10, wherein said access links and backhaul links comprisebeamformed links.
 18. The system of claim 10, wherein said access linksand backhaul links comprise links over a millimeter-wave (mmWave) bandor a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) band.
 19. The system of claim 10comprising a plurality of wireless communication nodes forming aplurality of wireless communication cell, said plurality of wirelesscommunication nodes to communicate over a backhaul network formed by aplurality of wireless backhaul links between said plurality of wirelesscommunication nodes.
 20. The system of claim 10, wherein said wirelesscommunication node comprises a Base Station (BS).
 21. A productincluding a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereoninstructions that, when executed by a machine, result in: controlling anantenna array of a wireless communication node to form one or more firstbeams for communicating over one or more wireless access links betweensaid wireless communication node and one or more mobile devices; andcontrolling said antenna array to form one or more second beams forcommunicating over one or more wireless backhaul links between saidwireless communication node and one or more other wireless communicationnodes.
 22. The product of claim 21, wherein said instructions result incommunicating over said backhaul and access links during separate timeperiods.
 23. The product of claim 21, wherein said instructions resultin communicating over said backhaul and access links during a commontime period.
 24. The product of claim 23, wherein said instructionsresult in communicating over said backhaul and access links according toa Multi-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.
 25. Theproduct of claim 23, wherein said instructions result in transmittingcommunications over said backhaul and access links during a first commontime period, and receiving communications over said backhaul and accesslinks during a second common time period.
 26. The product of claim 21,wherein said instructions result in controlling one or more firstsub-arrays of said antenna array to form said one or more first beams,and controlling one or more second sub-arrays of said antenna array toform said one or more second beams.
 27. A method of wirelesscommunication, the method comprising: controlling an antenna array of awireless communication node to form one or more first beams forcommunicating over one or more wireless access links between saidwireless communication node and one or more mobile devices; andcontrolling said antenna array to form one or more second beams forcommunicating over one or more wireless backhaul links between saidwireless communication node and one or more other wireless communicationnodes.
 28. The method of claim 27 comprising communicating over saidbackhaul and access links during separate time periods.
 29. The methodof claim 27 comprising communicating over said backhaul and access linksduring a common time period.
 30. The method of claim 27 comprisingcommunicating over said backhaul and access links according to aMulti-User (MU) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scheme.